After the Suns were swept by the Wolves, the backlash was swift and harsh. As one of the highest-paid teams, with a combined payroll and luxury tax payment at $408.89 million for 2024-25, expectations have always been high. And after the crushing Minnesota loss, they promised to consider changes, starting with the coaching staff. And they did just that. Frank Vogel, who led the Lakers to a championship in 2020 and was fired in 2022, faced a similar fate with the Suns, only to join another playoff contender and a known face!

In a surprising turn of events, Jason Kidd announced that Frank Vogel has now joined the Mavs‘ coaching staff as a consultant. “It took a lot of begging,” Kidd joked, “but he was talked into it and I’m happy he said yes.” This addition is monumental for the Mavs, who are already riding the high of adding Klay Thompson to their roster. Now, with Vogel—another proven NBA champion—joining the coaching staff, the Dallas side has stacked their team with winning experience.

“Being able to work for Frank was something that helped me with my coaching,” Kidd told reporters. Working under Vogel with the Lakers, they had won the 2020 ring. “Hopefully, we can win another title together,” he said via Marc Stein and Grant Afseth. As we march back into the present, coming off an incredible playoff run, where they reached the finals but fell short, this offseason has brought nothing but hope and excitement. With these new additions, the Mavs are positioning themselves for another deep run, fueled by the experience of champions both on the court and on the sidelines. This feels like the beginning of something special in Dallas.

As for Phoenix, they made a bold move by hiring Mike Budenholzer, who was let go by the Bucks after their 2023 first-round exit to the Heat. Though the Suns initially didn’t fire Frank Vogel right after their first-round sweep in the playoffs at the hands of a young Minnesota team, the org carefully evaluated the situation. After doing due diligence, they ultimately decided it was time for a change.

“We’re here to compete for championships”– James Jones on why Suns fired Frank Vogel

The decision was ultimately made to part ways with Frank Vogel, despite his tenure as head coach lasting only a season. This was the 2nd team he was fired from after the one-year coaching gap after the Magic. GM James Jones addressed the situation in a presser, saying, “We need to improve in a lot of areas – there wasn’t one specific area. By and large it was – we just felt the timing to shift was right.” Even with their ‘Big Three,’ the Suns struggled, finishing sixth seed in the West with a 49-33 record while struggling with injuries and the lack of substantial depth.

The transition to Mike Budenholzer marks a shift in coaching style. Frank Vogel emphasized communication, sheer work ethic, and attention to detail, while the former focuses more on high-volume three-point shooting. His philosophy is to encourage players to shoot from deep, which is a perfect fit for a roster that includes elite scorers like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

GM Jones made it clear that they felt they were lacking consistency and a true competitive mindset. Reflecting on the struggles, he said, “Compete against your opponent, but more importantly, compete with yourself. And I thought that was an area of our team where we could be better. There were spouts where we didn’t reach our potential. A lot of that was just the inconsistency and our competitive nature. So that’s something we wanted to rectify, and I believe we’re getting it right.”

Jones now believes the Suns have a real shot at a championship. “We’re here to compete for championships, and I believe with Mike at the front, we’ll continue to do that – which is compete for championships,” he concluded.

What adds to the excitement is that Frank Vogel has joined the Mavericks’ coaching staff, another contender! While not as the head coach, his presence on the staff brings valuable experience. With both the Mavericks and Suns now competing in the Western Conference, this sets up an intriguing rivalry between two teams led by championship-caliber minds. What are your thoughts?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.